People who have autism spectrum disorder can also have co-occurring mental disorders that cause functional difficulties and distress when left unaddressed. Healthcare providers are positioned to screen and refer clients who could benefit from targeted mental health care.
Live Webinar
Wed, Sep 17, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDTCEUs/Hours Offered: AK/2.0; AL/2.0; AR/2.0; AZ/2.0; CA/2.0; CO/2.0; CT/2.0; DC/2.0; DE/2.0; FL/2.0; GA/2.0; HI/2.0; IA/2.0; IACET/0.2; ID/2.0; IL/2.0; IN/2.0; KS/2.0; KY/2.0 Category 2; MA/2.0; MD/2.0; ME/2.0; MI/2.0; MO/2.0; MS/2.0; MT/2.0; NC/2.0; ND/2.0; NE/2.0; NH/2.0; NY/2.0; OK/2.0; OR/2.0; PA/2.0; RI/2.0; SC/2.0; SD/2.0; TN/2.0; TX/2.0; UT/2.0; VA/2.0; VT/2.0; WA/2.0; WI/2.0; WY/2.0
Learning Outcomes
- After this course, participants will be able to differentiate diagnostic features of autism spectrum disorder from those of four commonly co-occurring mental illnesses.
- After this course, participants will be able to analyze ways that co-occurring mental disorders may affect clients’ participation in therapy, education, work, and home life.
- After this course, participants will be able to analyze ways to screen and refer clients to mental health services and educate clients and families on how to access crisis services as needed.
Agenda
| 0-5 Minutes | Introduction, review of learner outcomes |
| 5-15 Minutes | Epidemiology & etiologies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) |
| 15-25 Minutes | Incidence of selected mental disorders in ASD vs. General population |
| 25-90 Minutes | Case studies: Anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), catatonia, psychosis, and sleep disorder |
| 90-100 Minutes | Screening tools and methods |
| 100-115 Minutes | Acquiring options for mental health service referral (Incl. crisis services) |
| 115-120 Minutes | Summary, Q&A |
Presented By
Debora Davidson
PhD, OTR/L
Dr. Davidson has practiced mental health and psychosocial occupational therapy since 1979, providing OT to individuals aged 5 to 65 years in acute care psychiatry, outpatient psychiatry, community mental health, therapeutic schools, and clients’ homes and communities. She has taught OT in Mental Health to hundreds of graduate OT students and consults with OT practitioners who are developing independent practices. She has published in OT textbooks and professional journals and presented at international, national, and state conferences on topics in mental health OT.
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Financial: Debora Davidson has received an honorarium for presenting this course.
Non-financial: Debora Davidson has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Sponsor Disclosure: This Course is presented by PhysicalTherapy.com, a Continued site.
Content Disclosure: This learning event does not focus exclusively on any specific product or service.
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